The Illuminati was suppressed in Bavaria in 1785. Around the time of its suppression, documents were seized by the Bavarian state authorities some of which were published in 1787 (the front cover is shown above, Link). After its suppression the Illuminati, in all likelihood, took refuge in
Masonic lodges:
GENTILE masonry blindly serves as a screen for us and our objects, but the plan of action of our force, even its very abiding-place, remains for the whole people an unknown mystery. (The Protocols of Zion, 4:2)
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We should also note that George Washington (a Freemason) was aware of the Illuminati and was deeply
committed to restricting their influence in America.

Identifying the Elders of Zion depends upon whether the organizational structure of the Illuminati was preserved after the suppression in 1785. We can state with some confidence that it was since the Illuminati was already well embedded within European Freemasonry, due to the Alumbrados within Masonic lodges, at the time of suppression and could easily have found safe haven there. It was likely absorbed within the Alumbrados and was able to become the ‘secret Masonry within Freemasonry’ with its own organizational structure intact.
Prior to the suppression, there were three levels within the Illuminati, each level being subdivided into four sub-levels. When we include all the sub-levels that gives a total of twelve altogether. Of primary interest in the inquiry of the identity of the Elders of Zion are the top four levels. These are Rex, Magus, Princeps, and Presbyter: Page108, Nachtrag von weitern Originalschriften

In the above chart, lower to higher rank reads from top to bottom. The term ‘Rex’ means ‘king’ in Latin. So, at the highest rank is the Illuminatus Rex or king of the Illumanti. Immediately subordinate to him are those at the level of Magus (commonly called wise man*), presumably those adept in the “occult” arts of the Cabbala. Analogous to the Rex but at the next level down in rank would be the Princeps (or prince). Subordinate to the Princeps are those at the level of
Presbyter (commonly called elder). The world, or at least Europe, was divided by the Illuminati into provinces. Presumably the Princeps (or princes) would exercise the same authority over a province as the Rex (or king) would exercise overall.

The highest rank, Illuminatus Rex, presents us with a problem. Was that position occupied or vacant? Viewing the question in context, it is our claim that the goals of the Illuminati have been
the following:
● To re-establish the Jewish Exilarchate in Europe in the person of a descendant of Biblical
King David through the male line of Solomon (Son of King David)
● To initiate the destruction of Western civilization and eliminate the best and brightest of Aryans within Europe and elsewhere (the French and Russian Revolutions provide
sufficient examples)
● To establish a Jewish ruling class throughout the world subordinate to the Exilarch
● To proclaim, at the appropriate time, the Exilarch (Illuminatus Rex = King Despot of the Blood of Zion) as Rex Mundi (King of the World = Jewish Moshiach = Jewish WorldTyrant)

At the time the Protocols were written it is clear that the search was on for the “rightful” Exilarch. I pass now to the method of confirming the dynastic roots of King David to the last strata of the earth. This confirmation will first and foremost be included in that which to this day has rested the force of conservatism by our learned elders of the conduct of the affairs of the world, in the directing of the education of thought of all humanity. (Protocols of Zion, 24:1,2)

This shows that the Elders were holding back (“the force of conservatism”) on their program while they undertook to “confirm the dynastic roots of king David” and also that, once confirmed, they would launch a massive propaganda campaign directing the education of
humanity towards him. This strongly suggests that either the office of Illuminatus Rex was vacant or it was being occupied by some “seat warmer”.

Do we currently see such a propaganda campaign? We may cite the Dan Brown phenomenon. Briefly stated, Dan Brown’s novels (specifically The Da Vinci Code), which seem to rely heavily on the research of Baigent, Leigh, and Lincoln (Holy Blood, Holy Grail) and concerning which an intellectual property battle was fought in the courts, suggest that Jesus produced one or more offspring, that they or at least one of their descendants found their way to France and founded a royal dynasty (Holy Grail = Sang Royal = Holy Blood). That royal dynasty, the Merovingians, was overthrown by the Carolingians but since then has been protected by various secret societies.